Improvement in washing-machines



Pvatentgd July 30, 1872.

m m M. I

J CONNORAN 8L] SHAFER Improvement in Washing-Machines.

ITED S ATEN'r FFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,022, dated July 30, 1872.

SPECIFICATION. We, J AMES OoNNoRAN and J OHN SHAFER, of Red Oak, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of VVashin g-Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accom panyin g drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Thenature of our invention consists in constructing a washing-machine in such a manner that by the use of a flexible wash-board hung on eccentric lever-rods, which washboard passes under a hard cylinder, the cloth- 7 ing is kept out of the dirt of the water which settles through the crevices of the washboard in the process of washing. The flexible wash-board, being hung on lever-rods and connected with each other admits of a pressure on the clothing which is placed between the wash-board and the cylinder, discretionary with the operator, by placing one hand on the handle of the lever-rod, whereby dirty clothing which requires extra washing may be thoroughly cleansed by an extra pressure of the flexible wash-board against the cylinder. The washfboard is made of several sections and connected in a flexible manner, and the cylinder mounted with springs, to be self- "adjusting to the unevenness of the bulk of the washing, thereby preventing unnecessary wear, and securing a more thorough washing of all the parts.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective lever-rods, and check-strips.

To enable others of mechanical skill to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

We construct a suitable tub or vat of wooden sides and ends, with a curved zinc bottom, supported by. suitable legs. Inside this tub we arrange aflexible wash-board. Fig; 3 pre- .nts the under side of the same, with the one-fourth from each end.

proper connections, and a, Fig. 2, an end view of the same.

This wash-board consists of several fluted sections, a a, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. These sections are connected to each other by a chain, Fig. 5, and shown by b, Fig. 3. The chain is formed of strips of zinc or other suitable metal, bent over and doubled about (See b, Fig. 5.) Each end is hooked into an oblong ring, and several of the strips are thus united, forming something like a chain. One of these chains is fastened near each end of the sections a, Figs. 2 and 3, by passing screws or nails through it. This wash-board, when suspended in the tub, resembles nearly a semicircular concave, (see a a, Fig. 2,) each section thereof beingin a horizontal position, and the fluted side thereof inside the concave. Over this washboard, and inside the concave thereof, we arrange a cylinder, of which 0, Fig. 2, gives an end view. This cylinder consists of a central shaft, two end disks, and three or more cornered bars, d, Fig. 2. The cylinder-disks, represented by Fig. 4, We usually make of galvanized iron, with shaft recess in the center, and several round holes, 6, Fig. 4, near the edge, arranged at suitable distances from each other. Each end of the cornered bars d, Fig. 2, is made round, so that when placed in the holes 0, Fig. 4, the bars may revolve or yield to pressure, after which a shaft is run through the center of both disks, projecting on each end, and one end is provided with a crank.

In each side of the tub we cut a vertical open- 1 ing, f, Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, terminating about the center. Into these openings we place the pro- 1 jecting parts of the cylinder-shaft in a horizontal position. In the upper part of said openings we place a spiral spring, f, Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, said spring pressing on a hard piece of wood which is bearing on the cylindershaft. Said spring is held down by a check-strip, g, Fig. 6, which is made of hard wood, and serves likewise as bearings for the lever-rods, hereafter described; said strip being held in place by pins h, Fig. 6, projecting into holes in the upper edge of the sides of the tub. Each end of the wash-board is hinged to alever-rod, as seen at t, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3. Said lever rests in a horizontal position in small recesses cut in the upper edge of the check-strips 9, Fig. 6, with their bearing parts 70, Fig. 3. Said lever-rods are bent, in the manner shown at i k, Fig. 3, with one rod having a handle attached to one end. (See I, Fig. 3 and Fig. 1.) The peculiar shape of the rods, as shown, is such that when in the place and position, as described, the middle portion of the rods are thrown about three inches from the common center, so that by a vibratory movement of the handle I, Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, one end of the wash-board may be thrown to or from the cylinder; in order to havethe other lever-rod to operate in a similar manner, the end of the first lever is bent upward. (Seen, Figs. 1, 3, and 6.) The end of the other lever is bent downward. (See m, Figs. 1 and 6.) Thus arranged the wash-board attached to the rods may be thrown to or from the cylinder. To guard the cylinder from catching on the fluted ribs of the sectional wash-board, we attach a semicircular strip, 8, Fig. 2, on the sides of the tub, and between the cylinder and wash-board, in such amanner as to allow the wash-board to be thrown by the lever-rods only near enough to the cylinder to allow it to move free. All further advance is checked by the guard s, Fig. 2.

Having described its construction we will now describe its relative workings while in operation: The tub is filled one-third (5) with soap-suds; the flexible wash-board is thrown from the cylinder with the lever-rods; the clothing placed between the wash-board and cylinder. The operator now places one hand on the lever-rod handle 1., Fig. 1, and the other hand on the crank w, Fig. 1, and by a vibrating motion of the cylinder with crank w, and a pressure of wash-board with the lever rod handle Z, the clothing is washed by loosening the pressure on the lever-rod handle; and by turning the cylinder over or around the clothing is brought on the top of the cylinder, and may be easily taken out. During the process of washing, should one of the cornered bars 01 of the cylinder catch on a button on the clothing, the bar will simply revolve in the cylinderdisk, and smoothly pass over the button. Should too many or too heavy pieces of bedclothing or garments be placed in the machine and carelessly rolled into a large wad it would ordinarily check the operation of the machine; but by the use of the flexible washboard and the spring of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the wash-board and cylinder will both adjust themselves and thoroughly wash all parts of such garments, while during such. operation the spring presses up against the check-strip g, Fig. 1 and Fig. 6. The lever-rods, resting on said strips, press downward, and thus are mutually held in place in any part of the operation.

Now, what we claim as our invention, and what we desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A cylinder, provided with three-cornered purpose set forth.

JAMES CONNORAN. JoHN SHAFER.

Witnesses J. O. Goornn, ALVIN LAMB. 

